Coin Terminology and Glossary

The Coin Collecting Dictionary includes 546 titles used widely in the coin collectors community, and has received over 1043288 search inquires.

Selected title: First Strike
Explanation: An unofficial term referring to a coin struck shortly after a new die is put into use. Such coins often have prooffike surfaces and resemble proof, in certain (but not all) characteristics. Resurfaced previously-used dies sometimes also have these characteristics
Explanation: A grading service term used by PCGS, NGC, and other grading services. It indicates the coin was in one of the first groups of coins shipped by the US mint. PCGS and NGC will seal the coin in their "First Strike" plastic slab holder with the words " First Strike" inside the PCGS holder

Most popular coin titles

DefinitionSearchesPercentage
Specimen Proof (SP-70 or PF-70) 55340  13.58%
Silver Clad 32264  7.92%
Coin Silver 24354  5.98%
Slabbed Coins 23281  5.71%
BN 22853  5.61%
Encapsulated Coin 21866  5.36%
RB 21318  5.23%
Deep Cameo (DC or DCAM) 18334  4.50%
PF (PF60, PF70) 18044  4.43%
Reeded Edge 17107  4.20%
Ultra Cameo (UCAM) 16960  4.16%
Rarity 16044  3.94%
PR (PR60, PR70) 16038  3.93%
PQ 15864  3.89%
MS (MS60-MS70) 15610  3.83%
Incuse 14923  3.66%
Coin drop 14662  3.60%
High Relief 14538  3.57%
Reverse Cameo 14224  3.49%
Obverse or Face side 13960  3.43%